#3230

College and University Research-based Video Presentation

Building Listening Proficiency with Extensive Listening and Fluency Activities

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Listening is the most frequently used language skill and requires rapid, on-the-spot processing, so “why has our field [ESL/EFL pedagogy] completely ignored the need for graded fluency listening input that is for pleasure, and aimed at building listening automaticity?” (Waring, 2010). A viable response to this dilemma is Extensive Listening (EL), a method that builds listening fluency implicitly by focusing on general meaning through self-access to commercially produced and Internet-based pleasurable listening “texts” (Brown, Waring & Donkawbua, 2008; Chang & Millett, 2014; Cutting, 2004; Field, 2000; Oxford, 1993; Renandya & Farrell, 2011; Waring, 2009). Although specific research evidence on the benefits of extensive listening is still quite limited, engaging in large amounts of self-selected, easy and enjoyable listening for general comprehension purposes is theoretically supported (Ellis, 1994; Ellis, N.C., 2005; Lightbown & Spada, 2006). This session provides a rubric for curating listening texts, a course outline for EL and other listening fluency development activities, and a deeper understanding of how EL can support ESL/EFL listening proficiency development.

  • Doreen Ewert

    Doreen Ewert is Professor in the Department of Rhetoric & Language at the University of San Francisco, and Director of the Academic English for Multilingual Students Program. Her areas of research include SL/FL literacy development and assessment, vocabulary development, Extensive Reading, and fluency development.